Indicator for watches and clocks



W. HAINBS & L. BREITINGER. WINDING INDICATOR FOR WATCHES AND CLOCKS.

No. 248,310. Patented Cot. 18,1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

IVILLIAM HAINS AND LEWIS BREITINGER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PA.`

WINDING-INDICATOR FOR WATCHES AND CLOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,310, dated October 18, 1881.

Application led February 19, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM PIAINES and -LEwrs BREITINGER, both citizens of theUnited States, residing in the city and county ofPhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Winding-Indicators for l/Vatches and Clocks, which -portion ofthe face opposite to Fig. 2. Fig. L

is an enlarged view ot' a detached portion thereof. Fig. 5 is a section in line y y, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a portion, partly sectional in line x x, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view ot'a portion in line z z, Fig. 2, enlarged.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts in the several tigures.

Our invention consists of an attachment to a watch or clock for indicating the extent the same is wound or run down.

It also consists of the ratchet-wheel having a back act-ion for preventing tight winding of a watch or clock.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a dial, A' a barrel, and A" the barrelarbor parts of a watch or clock generally ot' wellknown form and constructionthe invention being hereinafter described as applicable to watches.

To the arbor is rigidly secured a pinion, B, which meshes with a spur-wheel, B', thelatter having a hub, O, on which is tted a plate or armature, D, one end oi' which is of the form of a split disk or clip, E, which embraces the hub C above the wheel B' with considerable friction or power, but allows said wheel to rotate when the watch is being wound.

Mounted on the armature D are two spurwheels, F F', which gear with each other, the wheel F' gearing with a spurwheel,F", which, located above the clip E, is secured to an arbor, C', and free ot' said clip receives motion from thewheel B'byaction of afriction-spring, C", which is of dishing form, and is sprung into a notch or shoulder at the bottom of the arbor C', the latter passing freely through the clip E and wheel B'.

(Model.)

Fitted on the arbor C is a collar, a, carryin g an index or pointer, G, which appears above the dial A, the latter having graduations or characters coinciding with the path of rotation of the index or pointer, the graduations or characters indicating the condition of the watch, whether entirely or partially wound or run down.

H represents a pinion, which is rigidly connected to the post of a wheel, II', which is geared to the regular runnin ggear of the watch or clock, and mounted between theplates thereot', the pinion H being so disposed that the wheel F of the armature D gears with it.

J represents the ratchet, tted looselyT on the winding-post or barrel-arbor, and provided with a pin, J', which projects into a segmental slot, b, in a cap,K, which is fitted on the square portion ofthe arbor, so as to move with the arbor.

The operation is as follows: In winding the watch the key is applied to the arbor and operated as usual. The pinion B rotates the wheel B', and, owing to the friction of the clip E of the armature D on the hub of said wheel, rotary motion is imparted to the armature and the wheel F is moved clear of the wheel H, so that the runnin g-gear is not affected, the motion of the armature beinglimited by apin, a", or spring ax. Simultaneously therewith the wheel F" is rotated and theindex or pointer G is moved in the direction toward "up on the dial A. On the first motion ot' the arbor A" the cap rotates, and when the end of its slot b reaches the pin J the ratchet is rotated with the arbor, and the winding begins; but

as soon as the power of the key is let goin order to make a fresh hold thereon, the pressure of the spring ot' the pawl or click c exerted on the ratchet causes a back action or motion of said ratchet, so that the pinion B, instead of holding the wheel B' and causing the wheel F of the armature to stand out from the pinion H, receives a slight return or reverse motion, which being imparted to the wheel B', and consequent] y to the armature, occasions the return of the wheel F to the pinion H and the consequent re-engagement of the former with the latter. The winding is continued and the other operations are repeated until the watch is wound, the index or pointer G lappearing at "up" on the dial. As the Watch runs down the pinion H connected to the running-gear, as has been stated, moves the wheels F F', and consequently the wheel F", without disturbing the Wheel B', and as the indeXG is connected to the arbor C' ot' wheel F", itis carried around toward down7 011 the dial, and thus the wound and unwound condition ofthe Watch is at all times exhibited on the watch-dial.

Should the Watch be too tightly wound, the back action or backward motion ofthe ratchet heretofore stated also serves to relieve the strain on the mainspring, and thus the great force of the spring is prevented from injuring the timekeeping qualities ofthe Watch.

A portion of the wheel F" is untoothcd, or one ofthe teeth closed, as at e, so that when said Wheel has made its full rotation during the Winding ot' the watch and said portion e reaches the wheel F' the wheel B' continues its rotation, but the wheel F" is stopped, whereby the index does not pass beyond the characters up,7 the stoppage ofthe Wheel F" being occasioned by the inability ot' the portion e to mesh with the teeth of the wheel F', the friction-spring,` C" losing its power to move said wheel F".

AS a majority of the Watches ot' to-day are made with stationary arbors, our improvement is to affect them only.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An index-carrying wheel, in combination with the barrel-arbor or Winding mechanism and an armature or plate which is provided with one or more wheels, connecting said index-carrying' wheel with the running-down gear, said plate or armature being,` made rotatable or movable, so as to disengageits Wheels from the running-gear, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The ratchet J, loosely litted on the barrelarbor and provided with a pin, J', in combination with acap, K, which turns with said arbor and has a segmental slot to receive said pin, substantially as set forth.

3. The wheel B', wheel F", and frictionA spring C", in combination with the armature D, connected to the Iiub ot' said wheel B' by the clip or friction-,joint E, the wheels F F', and the barrel-arbor and running-gear, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The index Gr, wheel F", and wheel B', in combination with the armature D,connected to said Wheel B' by the friction-joint E, and provided with wheels F F', and the barrel-arbor and running-gear, snbstantiz'illy as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The index Gr, in combination with the Wheel B', the armature with wheels F F', and the wheel F", with untoothed or closed portion e, substantial ly as and for the purpose set forth.

VILLIAM HAINES. LEWIS BREITINGEH. Witnesses:

J oHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, W. F. KIRCHER. 

